Scottish Executive

Central Heating

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to expand the free central heating programme to include people over 80 who have partial or inefficient central heating already installed in their homes.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  It is expected that the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2004 allowing the central heating programme to be extended to include the over 80s with partial or inefficient central heating will come into place on 10 May 2004.

Emergency Planning

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who holds primary responsibility and authority regarding anti-terrorism measures and the emergency services' responses to acts of terrorism in Scotland.

Cathy Jamieson: Primary responsibility and authority for anti-terrorism measures lies with the Security Service, which works closely with police forces, and in particular Special Branches, in providing the UK's counter terrorist response. Terrorism is reserved in terms of the Scotland Act 1998.

  Responsibility and authority for the emergency services' response is vested in their respective Chief Officers and is delivered through standing procedures.

Financial Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many non-Scottish Executive members of the Financial Services Strategy Group have attended subsequent meetings of the group since its inaugural meeting in Glasgow on 24 November 2003.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Financial Services Strategy Group (FSSG) held its first meeting in Edinburgh on 24 November. Eighteen of the 19 non-Scottish Executive members were present. A steering group has been formed on behalf of the full FSSG to oversee the work of a number of sub-groups. Six non-Scottish Executive FSSG members have to date participated in these steering group meetings. The next full meeting of the Financial Services Strategy Group is scheduled for 25 May 2004.

Harbours

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what sources of funding are available in order to keep the network of small piers and harbours accessible to tourists and local communities.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current budget is for the repair and maintenance of harbours.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of investment is needed to implement necessary preventative maintenance of harbours.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has two grant schemes that support harbours work, namely approximately £7.5 million for the provision of harbour facilities supporting lifeline ferry services in the Highlands and Islands and £400,000 for emergency repairs to fisheries harbours. However, responsibility for the repair and maintenance of small piers and harbours, including such matters as accelerated low water corrosion problems and dredging requirements consistent with expected usage, is a matter for the relevant owners. Funding support may also be available from local authorities, local enterprise companies, the European Union and the National Lottery Fund.

Renewable Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the 40% of electricity to be generated using renewable technologies by 2020 will be exported.

Lewis Macdonald: This is not possible to predict. The amount of electricity exported depends on a number of factors including the mix of generation available in Scotland at the time, local and other demand for electricity and the prevailing market conditions.

Transport

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the analysis of the consultation on the strategic transport authority, Scotland's Transport – Proposals for a New Approach to Transport in Scotland, will be published.

Nicol Stephen: Our consultation on Scotland's Transport – Proposals for a New Approach to Transport in Scotland was completed earlier this year and the responses received placed on the Scottish Executive website. An external analysis of these responses has been commissioned and this report has also been placed on the website.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY CORPORATE BODY Parliamentary Staff

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S1W-26960 by Sir David Steel on 6 August 2002, how many parliamentary staff are now seconded from (a) the United Kingdom civil service, (b) other public sector bodies and (c) the private sector.

Duncan McNeil (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): The figures requested are as follows:

  (a) UK civil service – 31, (b) other public sector bodies – 0 and (c) the private sector – 1.